Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch scrapped?

House Democrats are preparing new legislation aimed at stopping President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch project near Arlington National Cemetery.

The measure, called the Arlington National Cemetery Viewshed Protection Act, would permanently prohibit the use of federal funds for the construction of large memorial-style projects within Lady Bird Johnson Park and other nearby National Park Service land in the Washington region unless Congress specifically approves them.

The legislation is being introduced by Reps. Don Beyer and Dina Titus following last week’s approval of a modified arch design by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.

Supporters of the bill argue the project violates the Commemorative Works Act, which requires congressional authorization for memorials built on federal land in or near Washington, D.C.

The Trump administration, however, maintains that congressional approval is unnecessary because the land involved falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior.

Beyer sharply criticized the proposal, calling Arlington National Cemetery “sacred ground” and arguing the project would improperly transform the area into a political monument. He also raised concerns about taxpayer costs, traffic congestion, and possible impacts on regional air safety.

Titus echoed those concerns, saying federal resources should be focused on government services rather than what she described as a self-promotional project.

The controversy surrounding the proposed arch has continued to grow in recent weeks. Advocacy organization Public Citizen filed a lawsuit on behalf of Vietnam War veterans challenging the legality of the project and warning it could obstruct historic sightlines connected to the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Activist group Third Act DMV also organized demonstrations near the Lincoln Memorial earlier this week to protest the proposal.

Despite mounting criticism, some Trump allies have floated expanding the idea even further. A Trump-appointed member of the federal arts commission reportedly suggested building three ceremonial arches across the nation’s capital instead of just one.

If passed, the legislation introduced by Beyer and Titus would not only target the current project but also limit future large-scale memorial efforts on federal land without direct approval from Congress.